The Stag, Issue 24

THE STAG

Issue 24, Summer Term 2, 2024

CONTENTS

College Events:

Meet our New Heads of School - pg 4

The Dell Play - pg 5

The Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal- pg 6

Sport:

Old Eastbournian Hockey Day - 8

International Sports Update - 9

Feature:

How to make the most of your summer holidays - pg 10

International News:

A return to the Falklands War? - 12

Monsoon Season - pg 14

Culture:

Cannes Film Festival - pg 15

Film Review: Challengers - pg 17

Book Review: Holding Up the Universe - pg 18

Is Fashion Art? - 20

History Focus:

Emperor Ying Zheng - pg 22

House Reports:

Blackwater - pg 24

Craig - pg 25

Gonville - pg 26

Nugent - pg 27

Pennell - pg 28

Powell - pg 29

School - pg 30

Wargrave - pg 31

Watt - pg 32

Interactive:

Spring Orzotto - pg 33

Spring Quiz - pg 34

Horoscopes - pg 36

This magazine is written for pupils by the pupils of Eastbourne College. It is not an official College publication and is not meant to be an accurate reflection of every activity or event across the College; nor (obviously) is every pupil mentioned. The magazine is for the Eastbourne College community only, so please do not send it on to friends or family. We hope you enjoy reading our magazine!

MEET OUR NEW HEADS OF SCHOOL

This term, of course, has been an exciting time for many of the Year 12s, with both School and House positions being appointed for what I think will be a very successful year with a fantastic team of senior pupils. Heading up the team are our new Heads of School, Tilly Chapman and Noah Titterton.

Tilly:

How did you feel when you were told that you were going to be Head Girl?

When I was initially offered the role, I was overwhelmed with joy and genuinely could not believe it I had no idea who would be offered the other roles, so when I saw all the new prefects walking in, I was very happy with the choices and incredibly proud of everyone It is such an honour to be given this opportunity and I think we will make a great team

What has been the biggest challenge for you so far as Head Girl?

Adjusting to my new schedule was a big change for me, particularly in the first couple of weeks after being appointed However, I was also very excited to step up into the new role and dedicate my time There has been amazing support from the previous Heads of School, and Lati has passed down so much inspirational knowledge

What are you most looking forward to in your role?

I am looking forward to be able to work in a team, sharing ideas to better help the community. Having the opportunity to make valuable additions to the College is a great honour

By Tiggy Tutt

What ideas do you have that you’d like to see put in place next year?

We have lots of ideas we hope to implement next year, which will become apparent in due course. So far, they are mostly focused on students’ wellbeing and bringing all the houses closer together

Noah:

Who inspires you most as a leader?

I’ve always been a massive football fan, especially of Liverpool FC Growing up, their captain was Steven Gerrard, and I always looked up to him as a motivating, courageous and passionate leader who people wanted to play for. I hope that one day I could emulate just some of his traits and values as a leader

What excites you most about being Head Boy?

The opportunity to work closely with the other Head of School and Prefect team to come up with new initiatives and ideas to try and improve the College for the better and to leave a legacy behind

What have you learnt from Alex about how best to do the role?

Alex gave me lots of top tips and tricks which I have noted down and I will be applying them in my new role, but if I could be even half as effective and successful a Head Boy he has been I’d be thrilled

Is there anything that you think will be a big challenge for you next year?

It’s hard to say about that far in the future, but I think a big part of being Head Boy is adaptability and flexibility, being able to adjust quickly to any situation that may suddenly arise Therefore, I think we need to tackle each challenge individually when we face them.

THE DELL PLAY: THE GOOD DOCTOR

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, one of the most anticipated College events takes to the stage with the Year 12 production of ‘The Good Doctor’ by Neil Simon and Anton Chekhov for this year’s Dell Play. And who better to tell us all about it than the director of said production, Miss Stevens!

What’s different about the Dell plays as a whole?

The main difference is that it is outside! This gives us more freedom as Phil can build us a custom stage

Could you sum up ‘The Good Doctor’ in a couple of sentences?

‘The Good Doctor’ is a collection of comedic scenes as told by the Writer: some are from his childhood, others are from his family and friends, and still others are his own life experiences They are a combination of the best creations of Neil Simon and Anton Chekhov The humour infectious and the fun unending.

What’s been the best thing about directing this specific play?

The best thing about directing this play has been exploring all the different worlds created by Neil Simon (and Chekhov) and working with the cast to bring the quirks of each character to life I was in one of the stories when I was at school (I'll let you guess which one!) so it has been great to dive into more of them.

By Esteban Boruel-Lopez

What’s been one of the challenges in directing this play?

The biggest challenge is getting everyone in the right place at the right time, with all their lines learnt. The cast are all very busy pupils with commitments in sport and music, as well as their academics The cast have mostly been very good with timekeeping and letting me know well in advance if there are any clashes, which has made the process a lot easier for everyone Why should people come and watch it?

People should come to watch ’The Good Doctor’ because it’s charming, hilarious, sad and touching. It’s all about coming to the theatre for the night and enjoying the stories being told

Please come along to watch this at the Dell Theatre, with performances running from 26th of June until 28th of June.

THE BLUE SKY BURSARIES APPEAL

By Suki Sheraton and Tian O’Leary

What is the Eastbournian Society? What does it do for the College?

The Eastbournian Society is a community of people made up of former pupils, old Androvians, and old Askamians, as well as former and current parents and members of staff. There are also people who simply like to come along to carol services or informal concerts, and those who live locally who like to be involved with the Eastbournian Society. Like a family connected to the College, the Eastbournian Society organises sporting and networking events, talks, and work experience, along with fundraising projects such as Project 150 and the Blue Skies Bursaries Appeal which is to be announced on Speech Day which would offer positions to students whose families would otherwise be unable to afford it.

Mrs Garrett: her history and her role

My father was a teacher at the College for 25 years, so my relationship with the College goes back a long way. In fact, my siblings and I were born here and lived at 14 Grange Road, which is now the Watt Annexe, and I used to crawl through the hole in the wall to access College Field! I grew up in School House when it was a boys’ house, and my father became its housemaster I joined Nugent in its sixth form where I did my Alevels I later married in the chapel to an OE! Eastbourne College is in my blood, so when the job of Development Director came up, I took it on since I had extensive experience of running events and businesses, networking, and the charity work I did

What is the Blue Sky Bursary Appeal?

Instead of fundraising for capital projects for buildings, our new appeal is the Blue Skies Bursary Appeal which would help financially provide for families for their children to attend, especially since Eastbourne College Sixth Form is the only remaining sixth form offering solely A-Levels Bursaries are incredibly important as you get a whole diverse group of pupils, which is beneficial as this gives a taste of the workplace where you have to connect with people from all different kinds of backgrounds. What is really lovely is that a lot of people who were on bursaries themselves and became successful have often traced back to their start at school and gave back to our College through donations.

‘The Blue Skies Bursaries will provide financial support to offer positions to pupils at St. Andrews or Eastbourne College whose families would otherwise be unable to afford it’

What is a bursary and what is it for? How does funding bursaries align with the College values?

It is essentially financial support for families that need it the most to have their children educated at St Andrews or Eastbourne College. It aligns with our values as it promotes kindness, integrity, and diversity

by giving access to as many local children as possible It really is beneficial: we have made many films with bursary recipients who were guided by the facilities and support offered at this school Pupil sponsors also receive a sense of joy and satisfaction in transforming a life as they stay in contact with the recipient after their time here.

How do pupils get bursaries?

We also do pupil sponsorship, so some people will sponsor a pupil through the school who is not their own child just because they want to be part of that journey and see their progress Families are means-tested, so there’s an independent process where a family will fill out various forms and an organisation will check that they need financial support before it goes through the school finance system There are also scholarships that give people a bit of a fee remission as well, although that’s slightly different because it’s not meanstested

What are the fundraising targets and what will this pay for going forward?

At the moment, the school offers about twenty fully-funded places for children We want to double that, so we want to have forty fully-funded places and in order to do that we ’ re building what’s called an endowment. So, we need 30 million pounds in this endowment fund, and then at 4%, the income from that will pay for forty bursaries moving forward: My challenge is to raise 30 million pounds, which is a lot of money! The good news is there’s already 15 million in the pot What we ’ re doing on speech day is launching with a film we ’ ve had made of the whole concept of the Blue Sky Bursaries, so that all the parents and all of the pupils will know what it’s about.

What’s Giving Day and what’s it for?

Next March, we ’ ve got a Giving Day, which is a day off-timetable with loads of fun activities, loads of fundraising online, so it’s a bit like Comic Relief We’ll try to get pupils as involved as they can, doing house challenges, whole school bake-off and whatever we can think of! There are lots of other ways people give: there are regular gifts, legacy gifts, one-off gifts, and then people give their time, and that’s really important as well

and

who was

Check out Matt Ginno (@mattginno) who was also a bursary recipient. His latest single ‘Knew Me Better’ is out now!

Emma Garrett and the hole she used to crawl through as a toddler onto College Field!

Ed Speelers, actor

film producer,

a previous bursary recipient

OLD EASTBOURNIAN HOCKEY DAY

On a beautifully sunny May weekend, the current girls’ and boys’ hockey 1st XI took on the EO ladies' and men ’ s hockey team. Each team was made up of various Old Eastbournians ready to come back and take on a team which they used to be a part of. First the boys took on the men and, while the competition and standards were very high, the boys 1st XI secured a 4-2 win A special mention goes to Rowan Bell for scoring a hattrick. The girls then took on the ladies during the mid-day heat who were very relieved to be playing 15 minute quarters instead of 30 minute halves: water breaks were much needed! Despite the current College girls being up 4-2 at half time, the OE team had an almighty comeback in the last two quarters to take the win 8-5!

The number of spectators was great to see – so many parents, pupils, siblings, current teachers, teachers who had previously taught and other OEs The catering team provided continuous yummy nibbles, drinks and a BBQ ready for players as soon as they came off the pitch.

By Sophie Fellows and Izzie Steed

Here are a few words from Hilly: ‘What a great day The weather was amazing, and it was so nice to see so many OEs and their family and friends back on Beresford The College boys played well for their 4-2 win in the first game. Rowan Bell scored three, thanks to some excellent assists from Finn H. The girls lost 5-8 in their game with captain Eliza Jones scoring the pick of the goal with a great solo effort I very much hope that this will become an annual event My thanks to IPS, CDW and the OE team of Helen, Jon and Kim for their help in getting the day organised Lastly and most importantly, my thanks to Elliott and his catering team for the fantastic BBQ and refreshments Roll on next year!’

The event was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all, and it was lovely to reconnect with many of the OEs Hopefully this will become an annual event in the calendar!

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

By Daisy Dunkley

F1 has been non-stop since my last article with some very exciting results, but there is definitely one result which sticks out in particular: Lando Norris’ first win is the highlight of the season so far and gives a lot of hope for his future in F1. Going into lap 4 in 6th place, Norris had a long way to go to get the win. Not only would he have to get past his current and ex-teammate, but he also of course had to get past Max Verstappen, a seemingly unbeatable driver at the time By lap 28, with the help of a safety car, Norris was in first place. Under pressure, Norris drove perfectly and even managed to create a gap between him and Verstappen of just under 8 seconds by the time the checkered flag was waved

Anthony Joshua is not the news in boxing this time, as Usyk and Fury had their fight on May 18th. Usyk won the fight which went down to the judges’ scorecards, after Fury somehow managed to get back up in round 9 This meant Usyk won Fury’s WBC belt and has become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 Usyk started his career in the cruiserweight category, and since then has taken win after win until moving into the heavy weight category. There is now going to be a rematch between the two which will take place on Saturday, December 21st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Closer to home, the line-up for the Rothesay International Eastbourne has been announced, with names in the women ’ s tournament including Emma Raducanu, Jessica Pegula and the world number 4 Elena Rybakina For the men ’ s,

Taylor Fritz is returning, with his compatriot Tommy Paul Fritz has won this tournament twice before and so is looking for the hattrick Another player who is making a return is Alexander Bublik, who despite not getting along with the strict grass court rules in 2022, has decided to come back and play this tournament again. It will be interesting to see whether the final will be between the two Americans, as their world rankings only differ two places, or it could be a surprising debut from a rising star

Finally, the news in football is the Real Madrid Victory in the Champions League final at Wembley. They won 2-0 against Borussia Dortmund, with Carvajal and Vinicius Jr scoring. This was England’s Bellingham’s first season at Real Madrid and gives a positive kick-off to his new start The day after the final it was announced that Kylian Mbappe will be transferring to Real Madrid on a free transfer after his previous contract with Paris St-Germain ends on June 30th. His contract with Real Madrid goes all the way until 2029, and he will be earning 15 million euros a season, and an extra 150 million as a signing-on bonus which will be paid over the five years Real Madrid’s addition of Mbappe may make them even more undefeatable!

Kylian Mbappe has signed to Real Madrid

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAYS

By Ella Banks

After months of exams, revision and busy school life, you will finally be free to kick back and relax, but what to do with your spare time? There is a collection of amazing experiences, activities, and adventures you can do by yourself, with your friends or family during the summer holidays. The BBC have put together an A-Z summer bucket list, full of ideas on how to spend your time in the upcoming holiday season

Many people like to spend their summer holidays going to music festivals While this is great, there are so many other activities to do during the summer Music festivals can be incredibly expensive to go to and not many people know that there are so many free festivals all over the UK Just search for free music festivals around your area and boo: you can experience new music and

discover new places along the way

The BBC suggests that you become a tourist in your own area: have you ever really explored your hometown or city? There could be monuments, museums or historical sites in your hometown that you have never visited before Camping is also a great way to spend time with yourself or friends and family Spending time outdoors should be everyone ’ s main focus over the holidays, making the most of the brief sunshine

Another recommendation is a digital detox The last thing you would want to do is look back on your summer and think you wasted it by mindlessly scrolling in a dark room Instead of this, plan days with your friends

where you can just be present without the need to use your phone We are blessed in the UK with both incredible countryside and coastal areas, yet we do not realise how

‘We feel so much happier during the summer months because we spend time outdoors’

lucky we are. Spending time in the fresh air while exercising is so good for your mental health and we all feel so much happier during the summer months because we spend time outdoors Push yourself to take part in some hikes: there are so many famous mountains across the UK, why not climb one? Have you ever heard of the Three Peaks Challenge? Would you like to feel a sense of achievement when looking back on your holidays? This challenge

involves climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) either in 24 hours, 48 hours or three days

If walking isn’t your thing, why not partake in some water sport activities? Sailing, surfing, and wind surfing courses can be found along almost every coastal area you visit and this can also encourage you to travel around these coastal regions of the UK

We have so much time over the summer to actually explore this beautiful country. Most people venture outside of the UK in their holidays but people seem to forget how much we have here. A summer at home does not have to be a boring one I hope this guide has given you some ideas on how to fill your time this summer

A RETURN TO THE FALKLANDS WAR?

Post-war Britain was a time of confusion and chaos The 1945 general election saw the leader of the opposition Clement Atlee defeat incumbent Prime Minister Winston Churchill and succeed him in office Atlee was a different kind of Prime Minister from any other seen before He was focused on welfare, but he also had his mind set on decolonisation Some countries gained their independence peacefully such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, whereas others gained it through more drastic and violent means such as Southern Rhodesia (modernday Zimbabwe), and one never even requested independence.

The Falkland Islands are not a colony In the modern day, many make the mistake of assuming the Falklands are either directly administrated by the Westminster government or are a colony subject to comply with the demands of the Westminster government. Neither of these statements are true The Falklands which are home to around 3,500 British settlers are known as a “British Overseas Territory”, They have full control over every aspect of their government in all regards but two, defence and foreign policy, which they entrust the UK government to implement.

The history of the Falklands is complex and difficult to understand: it has passed hands between Argentina, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. Argentina had a limited settlement on the islands with only one

By Sam Watson

inhabitant and a few cattle rustlers when the islands were first settled in 1764 They were later surrendered by the Argentines to the Spanish and from there the islands passed hands several times until British rule was firmly established in 1833. After British rule had been cemented in the Falklands, settlers began to move there with dreams of starting a new life Sheep from Wales were imported to bolster the local economy and British settlers travelled across the waves to start building a new home However, despite the islands being settled by only British nationals who have now lived there for hundreds of years, Argentina still claims the islands to this day.

To understand the conflict in the Falklands today, we need to go back to 2nd of April 1982. On what was a peaceful Friday on the islands, the inhabitants soon found themselves in a warzone. 600 Argentine Commandos landed on the Falklands and, with their numerical superiority, forced the garrison of only 57 Royal Marine Commandos to surrender, marking the start of the Falklands War. Prime Minister of the time, Margaret Thatcher, also known as the Iron Lady, responded with extreme prejudice. She declared an exclusion zone around the islands stating any Argentine ship within the bounds would be sunk, and then mobilised the entirety of the Armed Forces to defend the islands with a task force comprising of the Royal Marines, the Parachute Regiment and the Gurkha Light Infantry.

After a brutal conflict lasting from 2nd of April to 14th of June, the Falklands had been liberated by British forces and the Argentine government was forced to concede However, they still refused to relinquish their claims on the island In 2013, a referendum was held on the islands which posed the question “Would the people of the Falklands wish to maintain their status as a British Overseas Territory?” A resounding 998% Yes vote returned, leaving

the sovereignty of the islands of no dispute in the international community However, with the election of Argentina’s far-right Javier Milei whose economic policy is considered to be remarkably damaging and even more divisive, he has launched a second bid to reclaim the Falkland Islands to gain popularity amongst his people, whilst claiming that only diplomatic channels will be taken to take the islands The UK Government remains uneasy and a detachment of the Parachute Regiment still remain in the Falklands to this day.

As over 3,500 islanders watch as an ever more volatile and unstable Argentina threatens their sovereignty, the fate of the islands hangs in the balance with many islanders questioning what will happen next

MONSOON SEASON

As we get ready for what will hopefully be a summer of sunshine, many areas of India are preparing for what is set to be an above average monsoon season.

The monsoons occur as winter ends and warm, moist air from the southwest Indian Ocean is blown with the prevailing winds towards India and its neighbouring countries The monsoons bring low pressures, a humid climate and torrential rainfall, which can have fatal consequences However, much of India’s economy still depends on these monsoons as many agricultural practices rely on the rain and, similarly, a lot of industry in the country uses hydroelectric power to run

However, the monsoons also cause very significant damage Hundreds of people every year lose their lives to the monsoon. Devastatingly, 2019 saw the heaviest monsoon in 25 years, which tragically killed 1,673 over just a few months. Many of the deaths occur due to landslides and building collapses, meaning that some of the poorest areas are most vulnerable because of their lack of infrastructure to battle the levels of water that they experience Not only do many Indians lose their lives to the monsoons, but millions over the years have also been internally displaced due to the damage causing many to not have anywhere to return to after the flooding hits India’s flood prevention and forecast systems are sadly severely lacking, meaning many areas are not adequately prepared for the years where there is above average rainfall.

By Anya Rai

Possibly a cause for concern is that this year India is predicted to receive 6% above the average rainfall for the monsoon season, which is significant as the monsoon usually provides India with 75-90% of its annual rainfall. Although this prediction is not certain, it is still worrying as this amount of rainfall could lead to similar levels of impacts to the 2019 monsoon season. This year ’ s monsoons have also reached India early, with the first signs of the monsoon coming on 30th of May in Kerala, located on the South West coast, so we will shortly be seeing the complete force of this monsoon season

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

The Cannes Film Festival is deemed as one of the most prestigious film festivals which gives cinephiles a preview of the upcoming movies. The idea was born in 1938 when Jean Zay and Phillipe Erlanger decided to set up an international cinematographic festival. The decision to use Cannes was due to its touristic appeal Due to the second world war, the first official festival took place from 20th of September until 5 October 1946, just one year after the war ended, and most movies that premiered were about war

In the early years of the festival, the highest prize awarded was a Grand Prix, but from 1955 the Palm d'Or was introduced, which is to date deemed one of the most prestigious filmmaking awards It takes place at the same time as the Monaco Grand Prix, making the Cote d’Azur the place to be at the end of May.

By Ariane Dodard

This year ’ s festival premiered an array of new films but, most notably, Sean Baker’s ‘Anora’ that clinched the prestigious Palme d’Or It stars Mikey Madison in the title role of an exotic dancer. Meanwhile, Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine as Light’ and Mohammad Rasoulof’s ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ secured the Grand Prix and Special Awards, respectively

2024’s festival jury was filled with big names. Greta Gerwig, the panel's president, was acclaimed for directing ‘Barbie’. Other notable jury members were Lily Gladstone, who received an Oscar nomination for best actress for her role in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, as well as French actor and producer Omar Sy, best known for his role in Netflix show ‘Lupin’ and ‘The Intouchables’

The exposing biopic ‘The Apprentice’ depicts former President Trump’s rise in the real estate industry caused quite a stir amongst the Trump campaign The movie, directed by Ali Abbasi, failed to collect any awards It stars Sebastian Stan, best known for his role as the Winter Soldier in the Marvel film, who plays the then New York real estate agent turned politician Jeremy Strong, known for his role as Kendall Roy in ‘Sucession’, plays Trump’s real life former attorney and mentor Roy Cohn. The movie reportedly depicts Trump’s relationships with Cohn and his first wife Ivana in a negative light.

The Trump administration took action and has sent the filmmakers a cease and desist letter claiming that the film is ‘ a concoction of lies that repeatedly defames’ Trump With the noise surrounding the movie, it remains to be seen whether it will premier in the United States or if the Trump administration will be able to make it disappear.

Cate Blanchett also ended up in the headlines for wearing a custom-made black Haider Ackerman dress which revealed a green panel Paired with the vibrant red carpet underfoot, this created a subtle homage to the Palestinian flag The actress has not confirmed people’s suspicions on the dress’s meaning but she has long used her platform to advocate for the plight of those in Gaza. Just like Eurovision, which

took place weeks earlier, Cannes had banned Palestinian protests, but Blanchett’s statement was heard nonetheless

Finally, over the festival’s period, a security guard went viral for clashing with various celebrities in attendance. The unidentified security guard has faced backlash after separate, heated altercations with highprofile guests including Dominican actor Massiel Taveras, former Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland and K-Pop star Yoona Clips surfaced of the guard tussling with a Ukrainian model with arms wrapped around her trying to drag her off the carpet The reasoning for the guard’s behaviour is unknown but Kelly Rowland suggested the guard’s behaviour was racially motivated Later, a colleague of the security guard previously told The Daily Mail that she was ‘just doing her job’ after many people online asked for her to be fired The model has now revealed that she is suing the security guard for her actions.

FILM REVIEW: CHALLENGERS

Challengers, written by Justin Kuritzkes and directed by Luca Guadagnino, and starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, was a thrilling and fast-paced journey spanning thirteen years, filled with tennis, friendship and an over-a-decade-long love triangle This movie was everything and more I expected from director Guadagnino, this being his eighth movie. The cinematography was bright and creative with the use of colour to represent changing time, as well as creative tennis shots throughout many matches The score was made up of Technofilled vibrations, repeating at certain moments to build audience’s expectations

On top of all the brilliance we see and hear, the acting was immense With the help of Guadagnino’s direction, the actors easily build the tension between them through their subtle brilliance

The plot of the movie is perfect for those that don't always want to watch traditional storylines; as we see the changing relationships, nothing truly happens This for me is the perfect movie plot.

By Layla Cluskey El Jishi

This movie managed to show problematic yet likeable characters creating a raw and realistic portrayal of everyday people (except for the fact they are professional tennis players!) While watching, we don’t know who to like, trust, or who is the ‘villain’, which makes for a perfectly raw and entertaining plot I recommend you watch this movie more than once to fully grasp the characters a little bit more

Overall, I would rate this movie (certificate 15) 5 stars because it is quite simply the type of movie that I love I found the movie perfectly paced, keeping you on edge and in shock, as you grow to love and hate each character. I highly recommend this movie.

BOOK REVIEW: HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE

By Suki Sheraton

‘Holding Up the Universe’ is about selfconfidence, accepting your flaws and not letting struggles and insecurities hold you back from taking opportunities in life Whilst it’s technically a young adult romance, this book is more about self-love than anything else Niven develops complex, relatable characters in Libby and Jack, two misunderstood and lonely teenagers They see each other for how they are, imperfections and all, and help each other through the struggles of mental health and adolescence.

The story primarily follows Libby, a sixteenyear-old girl whose mother’s tragic death derailed her life by triggering a severe mental health crisis and extreme weight gain to the point where she became isolated from society and confined to her home. At the beginning of the novel, she recounts the traumatic experience of having to be lifted out of her bedroom by crane by emergency services due to the severity of her panic attack and the extent of her weight problems, which led to the cruel label of ‘America’s fattest teen’. In ‘Holding Up the Universe’, Libby perseveres on her challenging journey to get her habits under control and re-emerge into society and join the local high school, refusing to allow fear of people’s prejudice and judgement to hold her back any longer As you read this novel, you ’ re sure to develop a deep affinity for Libby and feel a strong sense of pride as you

2016 Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction

see her flourish once again against all odds and discover her identity

Niven’s male protagonist, Jack, provides a unique outlook into the unlikely hidden struggles of those who seem to have it all As a popular boy at Libby’s high school, he’s taken at face value and presumed to only be the confident, cocky persona he presents However, it’s revealed to the reader that Jack has a debilitating secret; he’s dealing alone with a condition called prosopagnosia which impairs the function of his brain to remember faces This is incredibly isolating and terrifying for him as he can’t even connect emotionally with his own brothers, let alone the rest of the world.

‘I want to be the girl who can do anything’

Initially, to uphold his popular status at school, Jack is complicit in the cruel fatphobic bullying that Libby endures reentering public school; when Libby retaliates by punching him, the two end up together at the principle’s office and are required to do community service and attend a counselling ‘conversation circle’

together as punishment for their actions In this unexpected way, their worlds collide despite the chasm of differences between them As these two characters find each other in the most unlikely of ways and divulge their secrets to each other, it allows them to find themselves. They find solace in each other and support each other on their respective journeys through the mental, social and emotional challenges of adolescence combined with their unique burdens.

The two develop a deep bond and an understanding that transcends the barriers of teenage social hierarchy and help each other through the overwhelm and vulnerability they experience as young people Whether or not you relate to the specific problems faced by these two characters, this book has a way of approaching the topic of teenage mental health that will have you feel connected to it in one way or another. I thought that Jennifer Niven’s portrayal of these delicate issues felt natural and in no way overdone or tropified, unlike many young adult novels that explore identity and mental health This beautiful story of friendship, suffering and love sends you an emotional rollercoaster of

a journey and had me invested from the very first page

I found that even though it contained heavy, emotional topics, this book made me feel uplifted and hopeful through the way that, whilst both Libby and Jack’s lives were still undoubtedly imperfect at the end, their progress towards confidence and happiness was evident There is quiet optimism in the way that these characters’ relationship and their support of each other was wholly nonjudgemental, managing to overcome the stereotypes and labels of society To sum up ‘Holding Up the Universe’ in just a few words, I’d describe it as emotional, powerful and heart-warming and a must-read for all young people to understand the importance of kindness towards all, as you never know what is going on for someone behind closed doors.

Jennifer Niven

IS FASHION ART?

The question of whether fashion is art has aroused widespread debate since the 1980s.

The seemingly conflicting relationship creates an contested borderline between fashion and art, where some opinions claim “fashion aspires to become art, but it also knows that becoming art will lead to its own destruction.” Fashion needs the support of art to inspire and innovate new designs Art, debatably, needs the business acumen of fashion to survive or meet the needs of the public

Although art and fashion operate in different forms and systems, there have been crossovers in history In the book ‘Fashion and Art, 2012’ by Adam Greczy, the author suggests that since the beginning of the 19th Century, designers “played a central part in popularising art” when artists sought collaboration with designers, many of whom like Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Helmut Lang and more. They almost disseminated artistic motifs in social groups at the period who would have had little contact with arts or felt uncomfortable dealing with it

The relationship between the body and expression drew artists into the sphere of the couturier's salon.

By Mandy Luo

Iconic collaborations between designer Elsa Schiaparelli and artist Salvador Dalí -1937, 1938

At the end of the 19th Century and th beginning of the 20th Century, wome appearance, dominated by skirts, bec completely liberated, and the concep fashion became more open At this tim there was an emerging style of perfor in art, such as opera and ballet dance, led to a more dynamic lead in fashion rapid dance movements showed the disintegration of the physical body an evolution in space symbolised futurism turn inspiring the embodiment of the structure of fashion, which is construc

Through fashion with arts…

example of this is Yves Saint Laurent's Mondrian collection in 1965, which was inspired by the abstract paintings of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, an example of which is in the image above The collection featured simple, geometric shapes in primary colours, creating a look that was both modern and timeless

Representations of conceptual ideas encountering the body have also been a reason why artists choose to present their artistic message through this medium; perhaps it is seamless with performative art This urges a wider group of audience to contemplate on the powerful meaning behind the merged piece, maybe a garment or moving architecture To a degree, it becomes more than a piece of clothing and rather, in fact, a piece of art and an essence of artistic style evolution Later on, The Wearable Art Movement emerged at the close of the 1960s, flourishing in the 1970s It was a merging point of individual artistic language with the dynamic fashion realm that has continued to date and is still invigorating new passions and innovations in the intersecting worlds

EMPEROR YING ZHENG

By Tian O’Leary

All too often, when insurmountable power is held in the hands of a monarch, they become tyrants. The First Emperor of China, Ying Zheng (259 BCE-201 BCE), became exactly that: the centralised bureaucracy he established enforced strict laws, such as outlawing most religions and philosophies (such as Confucianism) to ensure the people’s utmost loyalty to the government, as well as cruel punishments (mutilation and death being examples). The past was to be wiped out so that history would begin with himself and the Qin Dynasty by ordering all books to be burned as he constructed a system of censorship The use of forced labour when constructing his mausoleum and the Great Wall of China resulted in the loss of countless lives. Being an assassination target three times speaks for the general level of his popularity. It was a shame the hitmen were incredibly incompetent, however

The first attempt (227 BCE) occurred when he was still King of Qin. Tempted by a severed head and a map, the king granted an audience with Jing Ke and Qin Wuyang When Ying Zheng opened the map, a dagger was revealed, which Jing grabbed and unsuccessfully thrusted at the king’s chest With a show of expert athleticism, the king leapt up and confusedly waddled around a pillar, failing to unsheathe his ceremonial sword The assassin, who was either very slow or very stupid, followed suit, and the two danced around the pillar for five minutes before the royal physician whacked him with his medicine bag. It was then the mighty and fearsome King Ying Zheng gathered the courage to draw his sword,

landing several strikes on Jing Ke who was sat on the floor with his legs spread in an obscene position to taunt the King

Playing cat-and-mouse around a pillar was all it took for the king to escape unscathed seems rather pathetic and embarrassing for the assassin But, to give him a little credit, the pillar was very big. Disappointingly, the two other near-successful assassination attempts were not as nearly entertaining

Admittedly, labelling the legalist Emperor entirely as a draconian despot is slightly harsh After emerging victorious from the Warring States period (475 BCE-221 BCE), the leader of the Qin State, King Ying Zheng, claimed the Mandate of Heaven and declared himself Emperor, unifying China. Whilst the Qin Dynasty only lasted for fifteen years, it was technologically and culturally significant: the standardisation of Chinese units of measurement, currency, and script, imposing a meritocratic government system, expanded the country’s network of roads and waterways,

Emperor Ying Zheng learns a valuable life lesson: pillars can save your life.

The Warring States of China (475 BCE-221 BCE)

and the establishment of a postal system are just a few of Ying Zheng’s accomplishments Arguably, his biggest achievement may have been reaching a grand height of 19866 cm, or in feet, 6’5 On an unrelated note, he was rather popular with women, seeing as he had a modest number of children despite never claiming an empress: fifty! The reason for never taking a wife was due to his trust issues with women, which stemmed from his adulterous, conniving mother who had birthed many illegitimate children, including a son who was to take over the Qin kingdom, as plotted by her and her lover When he discovered this, Hamlet here formed a hatred for not only his mother but female sexuality too, believing women should be chaste and modest (despite his own frequent activity) and was horrified when he realised they were also normal people and didn’t always want to be that Mr ‘All women are the same ’ also didn’t like women because he believed they were dangerous to his reign, a reign he confidently declared would last forever because he was immortal. Emperor Ying Zheng died at the age of 49 in the year 210 BC.

Ironically, in his quest to achieve immortality, Ying Zheng drank elixirs containing mercury, which most likely contributed to his death. Fortunately for him, he’s guarded in the afterlife by the infamous Terracotta Army of more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses situated in the Lingtong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi. Not so fortunately for the archaeologists who want to dig him up, the tomb may harbour deadly traps as described by China’s greatest historian Sima Qian When breached, mercury is set to flow like a hundred rivers, simulating the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and an array of arrows would be set off. Whilst it is believed that this was mostly a fantastical myth, the high levels of mercury contamination in the soil near his burial site cannot be denied I suppose this extra layer of protection is to keep the women out.

Ying Huhai, son of Ying Zheng and second Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, was an incapable leader, leading to the eventual downfall of the Qin Dynasty. His superstitious father was plagued by the words carved into a meteor that landed in Dongjun: “The First Emperor will die and his land will be divided” This dark prophecy seemed to be hauntingly true

BLACKWATER HOUSE REPORT

By Anya Rai

As we come to the end of another school year, Blackwater has many amazing times to look back on This year so many girls in house have been involved in inter-house sports, but undoubtedly both the interhouse hockey and netball competitions were some of Blackwater’s best We were victorious in both competitions but interhouse hockey was particularly special as the girls in house managed to win for every age group!

Another highlight of our year was most definitely the house revue: it was an amazing night of pink All the girls worked hard in their year groups to produce a range of acts from music videos and dances, to the Year 10s’ rendition of I’m a Celebrity, with some very interesting characters. The compères were great, and even the tutors and Mrs Price made an impressive video dancing to Jerusalema It was a brilliant evening celebrating everyone in house.

This year Blackwater had their annual house dinner with Gonville. The theme was ‘A Day at the Races’ and it inspired some fantastic costumes. We had flat caps and tweed, colourful jockeys and even a few horses The dinner was followed by the perfect array of games, from each table betting on some excitable races to even taking part in a few races themselves. It was a memorable night at the races

This has been an amazing year for Blackwater A massive thank you to our previous Head of House, Kirsty, for all that she has done, as she now passes the responsibility over to Amelia for next year. We’re very excited to see what Amelia and the new house prefect team will bring to Blackwater next year.

CRAIG HOUSE REPORT

By Matthew Murray

It’s been another intriguing term in Craig House, with a new head of house as well as the rest of new house roles being appointed

The Year 12s eagerly awaited to find out the new house appointments and, when the time came, Head of House went to Harry Shouksmith with Monty Sleep and Jasper Simpson as Deputy Heads of House Also, Dexter Bell was made a school prefect.

This term, the Craig House general knowledge team fought a fierce first round against Reeves, Nugent and Blackwater. We got into the final but unfortunately, despite our best efforts, Craig couldn’t come out on top.

In sports news, we congratulate Ollie Kirtley, Alex Bailey and Josh Dowsett for their performance in the Lashing world match last weekend. Meanwhile, we prepare for the house tennis tournament and hope for a victory. We also congratulate Theo Summers for a win in his first match for the Swedish Rugby National Team

We also say well done to the three Year 9 pupils who took place in the Kirk Green French Reading Prize Tommy Llewelyn, Jack Jordan and Charlie Powis all spoke really well but unfortunately none of them could win the prize

Harry Shouksmith has won the Alan Caffyn Cup for the third time in a row. He has also involved at a production of Joseph and the

Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Devonshire Park Theatre along with Jack and Harry Jordan The Craig House Band gave another stunning performance in the Big School Band night of Call Me Al.

We are also really looking forward to are long-awaited Craig House Cricket and Barbeque with the two teams in a locked battle of old Head of House and new Head of House with one team that will be led by Ben Clark and the other Harry Shouksmith.

GONVILLE HOUSE REPORT

Gonville have had an outstanding year as a house and there have been many exciting things to reflect on.

Everyone enjoyed the recent ‘Big School Band Night’ with a performance from our House Band involving; Gachecheh Kenyua (9), Sam Lee (11),Oscar Fox (12), Will Rennie (12) and Felix Muellershausen (12) We were also entertained by their performance at our house concert. The house concert was also a chance for everyone in the house to showcase their talents, either with their peers, small group or solo! House singing is also a very memorable moment in every year, especially as Gonville came second. We can’t mention singing without mentioning A Cappella which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

By Connor Morrell

Many sporting events have happened over the last year, including; football, rugby, hockey and tennis. We are looking forward to the much anticipated house cricket and Sports Day Gonville continues to wish the best of luck to those, within our house and otherwise, with public exams, albeit their GCSEs or A-Levels.

This is the first year with some pupils but the last with others, but everyone can agree that this year has been one of, if not the, most positive years Gonville has ever seen. We are eagerly awaiting the new academic year, holding new opportunities for anyone who chooses to take them!

NUGENT HOUSE REPORT

By Suki Sheraton

Runners up in house tennis!

Our senior teams for inter-house tennis managed to win second place, just closely being beaten by School House who took the win. We’re so proud of our junior and senior players!

Exam season

The Nugent Year 11s and 13s are working hard in preparation for their current GCSE and A-Level exams and we wish them all the best of luck

Inter-house debate

Nugent’s new prefect team!

The house is so excited to welcome our new year 12 leadership team led by Izzie and Gabi as our Head and Deputy Head of House. Our new prefects have already started holding meetings and planning new and exciting initiatives and events for Nugent next year.

Both teams from Nugent got involved in the inter-house debating competition this half term, with our senior team in Year 12 making it to the final round!

PENNELL HOUSE REPORT

By Fergus Lawson Johnston

With the academic year coming to an end, we can look back at the great year Pennell has had, with a excellent house concert, many house events and great memories with fellow Pennellians.

Before half term, the announcements of College roles were released with Max Harrison being named our Head of House and Fergus LJ, Archie Jones and Charlie Jones given the roles of Deputy Heads of House Barney Revill was appointed school prefect, Tom Schoorlemmer and Cedric Leung house prefects. Congratulations to all

Taking full advantage of the hot weather, Mr Holgate has introduced the new test cricket where the seniors play against the juniors in a cricket match every Friday

The Year 11s and 13s are on the home stretch with their exams We hope they continue as strong as they started all those weeks ago, and enjoy the welldeserved early holiday!

POWELL HOUSE REPORT

The first half of the Summer Term has proved to be incredible in all areas of College life, most notably in the latter weeks of this period, where we welcomed Max Williams (12) as our new Head of House and Josiah Pears (12) as the new Deputy Head Boy. Congratulations to the pair of them and we wish them good luck in their new roles.

Moving towards sport, Powell enjoyed a thunderous victory in the Senior House Tennis, championed by Sergio Vieira (12), Reha Akinlosotu (12), Reuben Booth (12) and Alex Davies (13), dominating the competition to secure first place. Well done to the boys continuing Powell’s tennis legacy

By Esteban Boruel-Lopez

Regarding the music scene, we saw many Powellians reach The Young Musician of the Year finals. However, plaudits must go to Zach Perry who managed to win the Junior Vocal Competition Congratulations also go to all who reached the final stage.

Additionally, The Big Band Night saw lots of representation from Powell, with Josiah Pears (12), Max Williams (12), Oliver Rivett (12), Zach Perry (10) and Toby Timlin (10) all taking part in this charity event, raising money for Mary’s Meals

SCHOOL HOUSE REPORT

By Tiggy Tutt

As this is, I regret to inform you, the final house report of this academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to say have a lovely summer when it comes! This does of course mean saying goodbye to the Year 13s in house, who have been an absolute delight to have around, and I know that they’ll be greatly missed

I would like to start, however, by just celebrating the newly appointed house prefect team, who I am sure will do a fantastic job:

• Head of House – Ella Banks

• Deputy Heads of House – Millie Grantham and Alice Osborne

• Head of Younger Years – Kitty Seavill

• Peer Listener – Daisy Garvin-Marr

• Head of Overseas – Mandy Luo

• Head of Events – Ariane Dodard

• Sports Captains – Anna Watson and myself

Also, huge congratulations to Varvara for being made Deputy Head of School!

There have also been two new additions to the School House team this term, one of whom coming in at an impressive 9lbs and 5oz! They are of course Katie and Mrs Whiddett Adams’ respective gorgeous babies, called Tabitha and Mabel

In terms of sporting achievements so far this term, the senior girls had a great run at house tennis, winning all of our matches and coming out victorious! And well done to Annabel, Becky, Lola, Ellen, and Clara for lots of great tennis achievements so far this term as well!

It has been great to hear about the South Africa trip that took place over Easter, with Ella Banks having done a fantastic job of helping to tell lots of people throughout the school about what an amazing trip it was!

I would also just like to thank Miss Gordon, who has taken over as Hsm this term, and Miss Fry, who has stepped in as resident tutor, for all they have done for us This is ranging from ice cream in the common room and scavenger hunts, to game nights and sixth form cheese and wine evenings!

WARGRAVE HOUSE REPORT

Interhouse continues

During the interhouse competition and rivalry that comes with it, Wargrave Year 10s have competed in the inter-house tennis tournament and, whilst at the time of writing the results remain unknown, I am certain that our Year 10s will impress and take down the competition.

Exams

Although not only in Wargrave, internal and external exams have begun across the school; most notably Years 11 and 13 taking on their GCSEs and A-Levels respectively, On a lesser note, Years 10 and 12 face internal examinations as well. The effort, time and dedication the Years 11 and 13 of Wargrave House have put in is undeniable and their results will definitely reflect their hard work

House Roles

As our Year 13s prepare to move on to bigger and better things, the current Year 12s are left to take on the mantle and take on several roles within house, Paddy Cooper is set to be our Head of House supported by Theo Cruttenden as Deputy Head of House In addition to this, Dan Sasao has been appointed international pupil representative and Samuel Watson has been selected to serve as peer listener, I wish Paddy, Theo Dan (and myself!) the best of luck in helping and serving the Wargrave community.

By Sam Watson

WATT HOUSE REPORT

By Emily Finch

This year has been a busy one for Watt with many activities taking place. We started the year with the annual house dinner with Pennell which was movie character themed The night saw some brilliant outfits from both houses and was well organised by the Year 12s.

On the charity front, in October the whole house completed a 14 mile walk from Seaford to Eastbourne in aid of the charity ‘You Raise Me up ’ , managing to raise over £3,600 solely on Just Giving The walk was many of the girls’ highlights of the year, as the Year 10s said they enjoyed socialising with all their friends and the feeling of accomplishment

The annual house review was another major success and the extensive dance and drama rehearsals definitely paid off as we all loved watching it come together.

We’ve also been busy in house, with many activities organised by the old and new prefect teams Badminton, pool and air hockey have been enjoyed, alongside countless Just Dance A highlight for many has been the rounders games on College Field and the international dinner Recently, Alice organised ‘Assassins’, where we each had to assassinate someone with a sock and avoid being assassinated ourselves We will continue rounders and assassins in the coming weeks

The annual end of year BBQ bought enthusiastic and fun games of rounders to College Field, followed by funny Watt awards. Well done to Sophie Stephens for winning the Watt Cup Everyone enjoyed socialising in the garden with the BBQ. Thank you, Mrs Tutt and Adrian

SUMMER FRUIT SALAD

By Sophie Stevens

Ingredients:

2 ripe peaches or nectarines

50g caster sugar

1tsp lemon thyme leaves

100g mascarpone

100ml double cream

a drop of vanilla extract

16 raspberries, halved small handful pistachios, roughly chopped

1tbsp maple syrup

Method:

1.Stone and finely slice the peaches or nectarines and arrange the slices over four plates

2 Sprinkle over a little of the sugar and scatter over most of the thyme leaves

3. Whisk together the mascarpone, cream, vanilla extract and the remaining sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy.

4. Spoon or pipe blobs of the mixture over the peaches or nectarines and arrange the raspberries over the plates.

5. Finish with a scattering of pistachios, the remaining thyme leaves and a drizzle of maple syrup to serve.

SUMMER QUIZ

1.What does SPF stand for in sunscreen products?

A. Sun Protection Factor

B. Skin Protection Factor

C. Sun Protective Factor

2. Which country has, on average, the most extended summer break for schools of thirteen weeks?

A. England

B. Italy

C. France

3. What dessert is eaten at Wimbledon Tennis Tournament every summer?

A. Strawberry ice pops

B. Strawberry shortcake

C. Strawberries and cream

4. In which country is the biggest water park in the world?

A. Holland

B. Germany

C. USA

5. How many different varieties of watermelon are there?

A. more than 300

B. more than 30

C. more than 100

6. What are the four summer Zodiac signs?

A. Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo

B. Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Sagittarius

C. Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Scorpio

By Sophie Stevens

7. Where is the World Margarita Championship held each year?

A. Florida

B. Arizona

C. Atlanta

8. The English word summer developed from what Old English word for the season?

A. Samer

B. Suma

C. Sumor

9. What summer recreation historically claims the least number of injuries and fatalities each and every year?

A. Swimming

B. Beach ball

C. Skinny dipping

10. In the U.S, what is the most popular selling grilled meat dish throughout the summer?

A. Hamburgers

B. Hot dogs

C. Grilled chicken

HOROSCOPES

Aquarius (Jan 20th - Feb 18th)

Re-evaluation of oneself may lead to acceptance

Pisces (Feb 19th- March20th)

Searching for closure is still lingering in the past

Aries (March 21st-April 19th)

Remember, rest is just as important as work!

By Mystic Maud

Taurus (April 20th-May 20th)

Asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure

Gemini (May 21st - June 20th)

Live life authentically and honestly

Libra (Sep 23rd - Oct 22nd)

Don’t be afraid to speak up: your voice is valued

Cancer (June 21st - July 22nd)

Letting go is braver than clinging onto what hurts you

Leo (July 23rd - Aug 22nd)

Life is not a race Let time slow down

Scorpio (Oct 23rd - Nov 21st)

You are the architect of your destiny It is time to take control

Sagittarius (Nov 22nd - Dec 21st)

It’s time to adopt new and better habits

Virgo (Aug 23rd-Sep 22nd)

Trust your intuition; let it guide you

Capricorn (Dec 22nd-Jan 19th

Be grateful for the present moment